Split - Book Launch

Join us for the Sydney launch of Split, an incredible anthology of true stories focusing on leaving, loss, and new beginnings, featuring some of our finest writers. Contributors speaking at the event include Sunil Badami, Peter Bishop, Lee Kofman, Gabrielle Lord, Virginia Peters and Kerri Sackville. To be launched by Tracey Spicer.

This is a free event but RSVPs are essential. Reserve your place now!

About the Book

In this compelling anthology of personal essays, curated by award-winning author Lee Kofman, some of Australia’s most beloved writers reveal, for the first time, powerful, occasionally funny and often heartbreaking stories of significant endings and their aftermath.

Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, shares how he discarded his past – perhaps aspergers – self, while comedian Sami Shah writes about his public split from Islam, the religion of his birth. Ramona Koval delves into the bittersweet end to her career at the ABC and Fiona Wright explores how her anorexia has affected her romantic relationships. Whereas Kate Holden suggests that for some, splitting – whether from memorabilia, books or lovers – is unimaginable.

The eighteen acclaimed storytellers illuminate candid and courageous reflections on the intrinsic human experience of loss and leaving, which acknowledge the price we can often pay for a much-needed end, or new beginning.

Praise

"Raw, engrossing, bruising, sometimes sexy, always personal, Split is packed with transformations." - Richard Glover.

About Sunil Badami

Sunil Badami is a writer, academic, performer and broadcaster. He’s written for publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, Good Weekend, The Australian, The Monthly, The New Daily, The Australian Literary Review, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Art and Australia, Southerly, Island, Westerly and Meanjin. His work has been published in Australia and overseas, including in Best Australian Stories and Best Australian Essays.

About Peter Bishop

Peter Bishop was for seventeen years Creative Director of Varuna - The Writers' House. A noted advocate for writers, he is now curator of Peter Bishop Books, an imprint of Ventura Press, and in 2017 published a collaborative memoir, The Many Ways of Seeing, with Nick Gleeson.

About Lee Kofman (Editor)

Lee Kofman is the author of five books, including the works of creative nonfiction The Dangerous Bride (2014, Melbourne University Press) and Imperfect (2019, Affirm Press), and co-editor of Rebellious Daughters (2016, Ventura Press), an anthology of prominent Australian memoirists. Her short works have been widely published in Australia, UK, Scotland, Israel, Canada and US, including in Best Australian Essays and Best Australian Stories. Her blog about the writing process was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014. More information at www.leekofman.com.au.

About Gabrielle Lord

Gabrielle Lord's first novel Fortress was published in 1980 and its international success allowed her to dive into the risky life of a full-time writer. Since then, despite the wayward income, she has survived and written seventeen adult novels, twenty-one young adult novels, and many essays, short stories and journal pieces. Her latest novel, Sisters, was released in 2019.

About Virginia Peters

Virginia Peters began her writing career as an author of short fiction, and her work has appeared in numerous anthologies. Her first book Have You Seen Simone? was based on a true crime investigation and was published in 2014. She is currently writing her second, a work of creative nonfiction.

About Kerri Sackville

Kerri Sackville is an Australian author, columnist and social commentator. She is a regular contributor to Sunday Life magazine, the Fairfax website Daily Life, and news.com.au. Kerri’s work has appeared extensively in online and print publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Telegraph, Women’s Weekly, Practical Parenting magazine, SBS Life, and the anthology Mothermorphosis. She is a frequent commentator on TV and radio. Her latest book is Out There: A Survival Guide for Dating in Midlife.